Richland One Teacher Is Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award Winner

A stunned Dr. Cliff Barrineau, math teacher at Hand Middle School, today was named as a recipient of the prestigious Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award and its accompanying prize of $25,000.

State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum made the surprise announcement during an assembly at Hand Middle School, where Barrineau had no idea that he was being considered for the honor. Joining Tenenbaum was Dr. Lewis Solomon, the Milken Family Foundation’s executive vice president.

"This award is truly humbling," said Barrineau. "I love Richland One and East Columbia. I’ve been blessed to be supported by students, parents and teachers, and for that I’m grateful. 

Dubbed the "Oscars of Teaching" by Teacher Magazine, the Milken National Educator Awards were created in 1985 to reward, retain and attract top professionals to the nation’s schools. Two South Carolina teachers are among100 unsuspecting educators across the country who are being surprised with the news of their $25,000 awards.

Barrineau is congratulated by (from left) State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum, Richland One Superintendent Dr. Ron Epps and Hand Principal Marisa Vickers.

"We’re so proud of Dr. Barrineau," Tenenbaum said. "Having a top-notch teacher is the biggest single factor affecting student learning and there’s no doubt that he is making significant contributions to his students’ lives every single day."

In South Carolina’s seven years in the program, there have been 37 National Educator Award recipients from the Palmetto State. Barrineau is the third consecutive Richland One educator to be so honored.

A 19-year veteran of Richland One, Barrineau has served as an assistant principal at Lower Richland High and math teacher at Dreher High and Hand Middle. Currently, he teaches Algebra II, SAT math and Pre-Calculus at Dreher and Geometry and Math Team at Hand. 

"I’m teaching the second generation now, and it’s very rewarding and fulfilling for my former students to say ‘I really did learn when I was in your class’ or ‘thanks for your help," he said.

Barrineau received his undergraduate degree from Francis Marion and his master’s and doctorate from the University of South Carolina. A nationally board-certified teacher, he serves as coach of Hand’s championship MathCounts and math teams as well as Dreher High’s award-winning SAT and math teams.

His professional affiliations include the South Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Middle School Association.

He is a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where he serves as a canter with the choir and works with Troop 100 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. He also is a member of Dreher’s band and athletic booster clubs.

According to Hand’s Principal Marisa Vickers, Barrineau is a special teacher. "He’s a multidimensional teacher who reaches students at every ability level," she said. "He’s a proponent of mastery learning and never allows students to give up on themselves; he won’t let them fail. His reputation is such that students look forward to being in his class."

He gives up his planning period to coach the MathCounts team and works with students before school, after school and during lunch period.

"There’s not a minute during the school day that he’s not doing something with our students," Vickers observed.

And such dedication pays off. His math teams have won eight state championships in the past five years and his SAT team has won two consecutive state championships. His seventh-and eighth-grade students consistently score above the national average for high-school juniors and seniors on the math portion of the PSAT and SAT I.

" He’s always looking for the next step," added Vickers."When he presents at meetings and conferences, he comes back and shares new ideas and information, so that we (teachers and administrators) all learn."

Next summer, recipients from around the country and their spouses will travel to Los Angeles to attend the Milken Family Foundation National Education Conference, three days of workshops, discussion sessions and presentations by nationally recognized scholars and practitioners in the field of education. The Milken Education Conference will culminate in a gala evening ceremony at which the recipients will be honored and presented their $25,000 awards.

Educators are recommended for this honor without their knowledge by a blue-ribbon panel appointed by each state’s department of education. Recipients of the Milken Educator Awards are selected on the basis of numerous criteria, including:

Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by outstanding instructional practices in the classroom, school and profession.

Outstanding accomplishments and strong long-range potential for professional and policy leadership. 

Engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues and the community at-large.